Fold-up divot repair tool case holding tees and ball marker

ABSTRACT

A fold-up die cast or injection molded divot repair tool forms a smooth exterior case for housing tees and a ball marker therein. The forked end of the tool pivots on a spring-loaded hinge with the remainder of the case which acts as a handle for the divot repair tool, so that the forked end of the divot repair tool snaps open into a working position. The flat top of the case has a stepped double recessed circular opening with two different diameter steps, one for receiving a circular ball marker, and the other for receiving a circular magnet for securing the ball marker in place. Three cylindrical spaced openings through the body of the case provide space for three golf tees to be removably inserted therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to golf accessories and particularly to acombination divot repair tool which folds up into a compactconfiguration for fitting into a pocket, the tool having a pivotabledivot repair tool, a removably attached golf ball position marker andone or more apertures therethrough for holding golf tees.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Golf etiquette requires patching up divots in the grass caused by a golfball striking the putting green during an approach shot, so a divotrepair tool is an essential piece of equipment for a golfer. Tees arealso essential for teeing off at each hole. On the green adjacent to thehole, it is often necessary to remove a ball that would affect a shot byanother golfer so that a golf ball marker is another necessary piece ofequipment for a golfer. The prior art does not adequately address theproblem of providing an inexpensive convenient means of carrying theseelements in a compact unit to fit in a golfer's pocket without any ofthe sharp elements of the tees and divot tool poking the golfer ortearing the golfer's pockets or clothes.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,239, issued Oct. 2, 1990 to Wait, is for a golfdevice which combines a turf repair tool with a carrier for a pair ofgolf tees and a ball marker. The device includes a one-piece body formedwith a pair of tee-receiving cavities in an end face of the body. Thebody is formed at another end into a turf repair tool including a pairof prongs. A belt clip is preferably integrally formed with the body ata bottom face of the body so that the device may be conveniently clippedto a pocket or belt of the golfer. In one embodiment, a pair ofresilient clips are attached to the top face of the body. A slot isformed in the body to open at the top face and the end face. The slot isadapted to receive the stem of a ball marker therein. The resilientclips can be urged away from the top face to accept the disk of the ballmarker and to retain the marker adjacent the top face. The ball markercan be readily removed by sliding the marker from the slot and past theresilient clips.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,937, issued May 1, 1979 to Jarosh, claims a holdingdevice that comprises a flat rectangular plastic box having two endwalls and elongated top, bottom, front and back walls with a pair ofprongs extending from one of said end walls for fixing divots. Thedevice has openings thereon in which small golfing items can beconveniently carried for use by a golfer while playing a game of golf.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,629, issued May 26, 1998 to Blomgren, puts forth agolf accessory in the form of an elongate pitch mark repairer extendingalong a longitudinal axis. The pitch mark repairer has a pair ofspaced-apart prongs extending from a body portion. The body portionpresents a transversely extending axis about which a tee is pivotallydisposed.

U.S. Pat. No. D505,473, issued May 24, 2005 to Foley, provides theornamental design for a golfing accessory, which comprises a holder fora divot repair tool, a ball marker and tees.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,395, issued May 18, 1993 to Liao, discloses in afirst embodiment, a golf tool which comprises an upper tee portionincluding a tee cup, and a lower green repair portion including a bodyportion adjacent to the upper tee portion and a pair of prongs extendingdownwardly from said body portion. A ball marker is removably attachedto the body portion. In a second embodiment, the inner edges of theprongs comprise a range-finder for determining the distance between agolfer holding the tool and a pin of known height, and a golf tee isattached to the tee portion by a cord. The golf tee and cord function toposition the range-finder a predetermined distance from the eyes of thegolfer. In a third embodiment, the golf tool comprises first, second,and third members, and cords respectively attaching the second and thirdmembers to the first member. The first member includes a body portionand a pair of prongs extending downwardly from the body portion, theinner edges of the prongs comprising a range-finder. The second andthird members comprise golf tees of different heights. Each of the teesin combination with its cord functions to position the range-finder apredetermined distance from the eyes of the golfer. A ball marker can beremovably attached to the body portion of the first member.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,647, issued Jul. 13, 1993 to Notarmuzi, indicates amulti-purpose golfer's accessory with a straight edge defining ascraper, a formation of prongs defining a green repair mechanism, thebase of a club stand, the base of a cigarette holder, and a spikecleaning device, a cutout defining a tee carrier, a notch defining acigarette holder, a tooth defining a club face groove cleaner, a cuspdefining a bottle opener in conjunction with tooth, a set of two tabsdefining a spike wrench, a lead-in neck and a cutout defining a clubgrip stand when used in conjunction with prongs, a ball marker holderformed as a hole, and a hole defining an attachment point for a keychain, hook, or other attachment device.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,502, issued May 1, 2001 to Warfield, is for animplement for repairing ball marks on golf greens, the implement havinga grasping portion at a proximal end and at least one prong at a distalend with a ramp-like profile ending in a transversely oriented abutmentin a mediate region. The abutment provides a surface against which anindex finger of a user can rest to apply increased pressure to insertthe implement into a golf green. The method of using the implementincludes inserting the implement adjacent the ball mark and moving turflaterally. In those instances where insertion of the ramp-like prong orprongs is insufficient to repair the damage of the ball mark, the methodfurther includes rocking the implement about the distal end to move theturf laterally.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,155, issued Mar. 29, 2005 to Jacome, describes atee-enabled divot fixer having a cover. The divot fixer includes a bodyconfigured to hold at least two golf tees in an approximately parallelconfiguration via a first cavity and a second cavity that are eachconfigured to accept a golf tee such that a tip of a golf tee canprotrude from the cavity as a tine. The body is also configured tosecure at least two golf tees in place within the body via a securingmechanism that is configured to hold a first end of a cover securely tothe body.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,436, issued Jul. 18, 1995 to Hoyt, shows a tee andball marker clip on a holder. The device can be conveniently attached tothe side of a golf shoe. It includes a clip member that attaches to theshoe and carries the divot repair tool. The clip member includestee-holding elements which hold conventional golf tees.

What is needed is an inexpensive convenient means of carrying a fold-updivot repair tool, several tees, and a ball marker in a compact unit tofit in a golfer's pocket without any of the sharp elements of the teesand divot tool poking the golfer or tearing the golfer's pockets orclothes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a fold-up die cast orinjection molded pocket device as a convenient means of carrying afold-up divot repair tool.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a compact carryingcase for carrying several tees and a ball marker in a golfer's pocket.

One more object of the present invention is to provide a pocket-sizedmeans of carrying golf tees, a ball marker, and a divot repair tool thatwill prevent the sharp edges of any of these objects from poking thegolfer or tearing the golfer's clothes or pockets.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide apocket-sized means for carrying a divot repair tool, several tees, and aball marker that can be constructed of a variety of materials.

A related object of the present invention is to provide a pocket-sizedmeans for carrying a divot repair tool, several tees, and a ball markerthat can be fabricated using a variety of different fabrication methods.

In brief, a fold-up die cast or injection molded divot repair tool formsa smooth exterior case for housing tees and a ball marker therein. Theforked end of the tool pivots on a spring-loaded hinge with theremainder of the case which acts as a handle for the divot repair tool,so that the forked end of the divot repair tool snaps closed onto a flattop of the case for smooth compact storage in a golfer's pocket. Theflat top of the case has a stepped double recessed circular opening withtwo different diameter steps, one for receiving a circular ball markertherein, and the second for receiving a circular magnet for securing theball marker in place.

The case is thicker at the back end and tapers toward the front hingedconnection with the forked end of the divot repair tool, with a curvedrecessed back surface having rounded edges on the corners and bottomedges, the back surface curving into a rounded bottom surface. Threecylindrical openings running from front to back of the rounded bottom ofthe case receive three golf tees inserted through the back openings andheld therein by a friction fit with the points of the tees restingmostly within the rounded bottom of the case so that they do notprotrude, do not provide a hazard, and cannot poke the skin or tear theclothing of the golfer.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a means ofcarrying a fold-up divot repair tool, several tees, and a ball marker ina compact unit to fit in a golfer's pocket.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that it isconvenient.

One more advantage of the present invention is that the structureprevents the sharp edges of the divot repair tool, tees and a ballmarker from poking the skin or tearing holes in a golfer's pockets.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that is can be made ofa variety of materials.

Still another advantage of the present invention is that it may befabricated in a variety of different fabrication methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way ofillustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in whichdrawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf accessory case device of thepresent invention in the folded up storage position for insertion in apocket of a user;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the golf accessory case device of FIG. 1with the divot tool fork extended for use as a divot repair tool;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of the golfaccessory case device of FIG. 1 aligned for assembly.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the combined divot repair toolhandle and case taken through section 4-4 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the combined divot repair toolhandle and case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-3, a golf accessory case device 20, preferably made of diecast metal or injection molded synthetic material, provides amultiplicity of golf accessories for fitting smoothly in a pocket of agolfer.

A combined divot tool handle and case 21 has a flat top surface 22provided with a stepped double recessed circular opening 23 with twodifferent diameter circular steps 23A and 23B. The divot tool handle andcase 21 has smooth rounded back edges, a front edge 26 formed as aportion of a hinge, and a protruding rounded bottom 24 that is thickerthan the top diameter of a golf tee. There is a multiplicity of evenlyspaced cylindrical openings 18 running from front to back of theprotruding rounded bottom 24. The cylindrical openings are spaced apartfrom and nearly parallel to the top flat surface 22. In a preferredembodiment, the device has three cylindrical openings for three golftees.

A number of golf tees 40, are removably insertable by a friction fitinto the cylindrical openings from the back surface of the protrudingrounded bottom 24, so that the circular top 41 of each of the golf teesfits between the top flat surface 22 and the bottom of the protrudingrounded bottom 24 and the point 42 of each of the golf tees lies mostlywithin the cylindrical opening 18. In this way, the golf tees fit withinthe outer perimeter of the combined divot tool handle and case.

A circular disc shaped ball marker 30A is removably inserted in thestepped double recessed circular opening 23, with the marker 30A fittinginto the larger step 23A. A circular magnet 30B fits into the smallerstep 23B, and magnetically holds the ball marker in place, so that thetop surface 22 remains flat when the ball marker is inserted therein.

A divot tool fork 28 has front protruding flat prongs 19 and a rearmating portion of a hinge 27 which attaches to the front edge portion ofa hinge 26 of the combined divot tool handle and case 21 by a pivot pin25 and a torsion spring 29A and a compression spring 29B. As shown inFIG. 1, when in its storage position, the divot tool fork 28 is normallybiased against the flat top surface 22 with the flat prongs 19 flatagainst the top flat surface 22, fitting within the perimeter of thecombined divot tool handle and case. As shown in FIG. 2, the divot toolfork 28 is pivotable to a working position, with the prongs 19protruding forward from the combined divot tool handle and case 21 foruse in repairing divots. A locking mechanism, built into the pivot pin25 and hinge array 26 and 27, secures the divot tool fork in both thestorage position and in the working position and a lock releasemechanism, the pivot pin end button 25A releases the divot tool fork 28from the storage position of FIG. 1 so that torsion spring 29Aautomatically pivots the divot tool fork into the working position ofFIG. 2 for use as a divot repair tool and the pivot pin end button 25Areleases the divot tool fork 28 from the working position so that thefork may be pivoted by hand into the storage position.

The combined divot tool handle and case 21 and the divot tool fork 28together form a golf accessory case device 20 that contains several golfaccessories and fits smoothly in a golfer's pocket when folded in thestorage position.

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by wayof illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that variousmodifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as claimed.

1. A golf accessory case device providing a multiplicity of golf accessories for fitting smoothly in a pocket of a golfer, the device comprising: a combined divot tool handle and case comprising a flat top surface provided with a stepped double recessed circular opening with two different diameter circular steps, smooth rounded back edges, a front edge formed as a portion of a hinge, and a protruding rounded bottom thicker than a top diameter of a golf tee, the protruding rounded bottom provided with a multiplicity of spaced cylindrical openings therethrough spaced apart from and nearly parallel to the top flat surface, the cylindrical openings structured to receive a golf tee removably insertable by a friction fit in each of the multiplicity of cylindrical openings from a back surface of the protruding rounded bottom so that a circular top of each of the golf tees fits between the top flat surface and a bottom surface of the protruding rounded bottom and a point of each of the golf tees fits mostly within the cylindrical opening so that the golf tees fit within an outer perimeter of the combined divot tool handle and case; a disc shaped magnet secured within an inner circular step and a magnetically attractive circular disc shaped ball marker removably inserted in an outer recessed circular opening so that the top surface remains flat with the ball marker and magnet inserted therein; a divot tool fork comprising front protruding flat prongs and a rear mating portion of a hinge which attaches to the front edge portion of a hinge of the combined divot tool handle and case by a pivot pin and at least one spring, so the divot tool fork is pivotable from a storage position against the flat top surface with the flat prongs flat against the flat top surface fitting within the perimeter of the combined divot tool handle and case to a working position with the prongs protruding forward from the combined divot tool handle and case for use in repairing divots and the divot tool fork being automatically pivotable to the working position for use as a divot repair tool by at least one spring, a locking mechanism to secure the divot tool fork in the storage position and in the working position and a lock release mechanism to release the divot tool fork from the storage position so that at least one spring pivots the divot tool fork from the storage position into the working position and to release the divot tool fork from the working position so that the fork may be pivoted into the storage position; thereby providing a golf accessory case device providing a multiplicity of golf accessories for fitting smoothly in a pocket of a golfer in the storage position.
 2. The device of claim 1 comprising three cylindrical spaced openings.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the combined divot handle and case and the divot fork prongs are made of die cast metal.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the combined divot handle and case and the divot fork prongs are made of injection molded synthetic material.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the combined divot handle and case and the divot fork prongs are made of injection molded metal (MIM).
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the combined divot handle and case and the divot fork prongs are made by forming a carbon fiber matrix or other composite into the desired body shape.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the combined divot handle and case and the divot fork prongs are machined from a material used for machining. 